The Birth of a Hat: Hat History

So many different hat and cap styles have had long and storied histories. Here you will learn about where the all started. From their inception, to their rise in popularity, and even where the hat style is going in the future.

Long before Mario and Luigi donned their iconic newsboy hat it had quite a history. The newsboy and Gatsby style hat is very similar to a flat cap. It is also known as a baker boy, Apple, eight quarter, or cabbie. It has the same overall shape and a stiff peak like a flat cap but the body is rounder and fuller. Newsboy and Gatsby style hats are also paneled with a button on top as well as a button attaching the front to the brim. The newsboy hat at first was synonymous with the early news boys that sold newspapers on the street corner. The newsboy hat was associated with the young boys who sold newspapers but they were not the only ones that adopted this hat style. The hat was worn all throughout North America in the late 19th and 20th century by both boys as well as adult men. The newsboy cap was loved by all people and all classes, especially the “lower class.” Many early photographs from this time period depict someone wearing this classic hat style. Just like wearing a baseball cap did not mean that you were a necessarily a baseball player, the same was true that just because you wore a newsboy cap did not make you a news boy. The news boys might have helped this hat style grow in popularity but this hat was soon worn by other professionals such as dock workers, high steel workers, farmers, artisans, beggars, and other professions. This hat style began with the lower class but was soon adopted into the upper class as well. What started as a simple inexpensive hat style eventually led to construction of higher quality caps. These were worn by the upper classes for use in their leisure activities like golf. F. Scott Fitzgerald was the author of a popular book called the Great Gatsby. One of the characters was Jay Gatsby. The novel was so popular that a new style of hat was born. The hat became known as a Gatsby style cap. This has is similar to the flat cap style but is simpler featuring a more pronounced bill. Nowadays you will be hard pressed to not see hundreds of newsboy style Mario hats on costumes all across the country.

The Evolution of Style

The newsboy cap is a hat style that not even the hipsters can ruin. A newsboy hat or Gatsby style hat can be found today is many styles, colors and designs. These caps have been referred to as baker boy, golf cap, cabbie, or driving caps. All these styles maintain that same classic design but add tweaks for both style and comfort. Gatsby cap, ascot, Apple, and 8 quarter styles remain popular to this day. Not many people have heard of this hat style but the ones that love it are very passionate about it. It has been one of the most popular hats for men in the last decade.

Modern History:

The newsboy and Gatsby cap style has been around for over a century now. The style has changed and evolved while also staying true to the integrity of the original design. It has graced the heads of early news boys, factory workers, farmers, beggars and artisans. It has been popularized by famous literary characters. It has evolved from being a cap worn by the lower class, to becoming a very popular hat of the affluent upper class. The newsboy and Gatsby style cap will continue to evolve in both style and function. We will continue to be on the cutting edge of current hat styles and trends. This hat has been around for over a hundred years and newsboy, Gatsby and other flat cap styles will be around for another hundred years. Believe it or not but Mario has been around since 1981 years and his iconic red cotton elastic newsboy hat is still worn as a Halloween costume every year, now that's staying power. Mario isn't the only one having all the fun, his slightly younger brother Luigi, created in 1983 has his own iconic green cotton elastic newsboy hat.

Hat Care:

These 5 tools will become your cap's best friend.This is a delicate hat style and as such requires delicate care. Look for a soft bristle brush to help you delicately remove stubborn stains. Be sure to use circular patterns when cleaning you hat to gently remove dirt and stains. Try to not get your cap overly wet and if you hat becomes wet simply shake off the excess water and let air-dry. Using these tips as well as the ones listed below you will be sure to keep your hat looking stunning for years to come

Here are some common hat care tips:

Every hat will develop its own personality and style with time. Small marks on the hat are all part of the hats life cycle and only add to its authenticity.

All hats can be treated with a waterproof spray if necessary

Some hats might shrink if they are exposed to high heat, or left out exposed to sunlight

A stiff brim allows your hat to be shape the way that you would like, but some hats feature a flexible brim that allows the hat to be crushed.

If you do not have a hat form, place the hat on a bowl while it dries to keep its form.

The dishwasher is another viable option for washing a hat but can sometimes fade the colors of the hat,

Dry cleaning is also a cheap and effective way to keep your hat clean

If you are completely lost about hat care check the tag to find washing instructions

The hat style was born all the way back in the 14th century in North England and some parts of Southern Italy. The ivy cap itself is a rounded men’s hat with a small stiff brim in the front.The caps were soon worn in the 19th century by immigrants coming from Scotland and other parts of Europe, usually by people of the working class. The hats were worn almost exclusively by men throughout Britain and Ireland. Around the start of the 20th century the ivy hat began to be worn as part of the upper class school uniform. More ornate and high quality designs began to become available for the upper class English men. These fancier ivy cap styles began to be known as golf caps. Ivy and ascot caps are made primarily of tweed, leather, or cotton and some even have air vents on them.An ascot hat is similar to any ivy cap but is distinguished by its hardness and its round shape. Both the ivy and ascot styles feature a unique elegant style that ivy and ascot enthusiasts love. These hats were versatile because members of the working class loved these hats and the higher-end style caps were loved by the upper class as well.

Styles:

These hats are readily available in many new designs and styles but the classic form remains. Whether you loved the simpler original designs, or are looking for the older brother of the ivy and ascot hat, the “golf cap” the hat offers and fashionable and sharp style that so many people still love today. You can even find poly woven, side adjustable, herringbone, felt, and plaid styles here on e4Hats.com. The ivy and ascot cap is one of the most iconic hat types in all of the hat world. Images of the 1920's and 30's would be nothing without these time tested hats. Nowadays you can find so many patterns, materials, and fits the ivy and ascot hats have surely evolved.

The Future:

These hats remain popular even today especially in select areas of Europe and North America. The ivy and ascot hat styles continue to grow in popularity as the days go on. The hat, at first typically associated more with older men has recently become more popular with more of the youth of America. Hollywood and many musicians have adopted the ivy cap style into their wardrobe. Recent hip hop artists have even started wearing ivy caps. With this recent injection of youth this hat style is sure to continue to grow far into the future. The ivy and ascot hat has grown and evolved over its lifetime and e4Hats.com is committed to offering you the best, and most recently styles of ivy and ascot available today. Click the link below to browse of selection of ivy and ascot caps.

Show Your Hat Some Love:

You should take great care when it comes to washing your ivy, ascot or other flat cap. First you should read the label and see what the material or individual hat washing instructions are. When it comes to these delicate hat types hand washing is almost always preferred over a machine. Use a cotton swab and some liquid dish soap to remove stubborn stains. Use a damp cloth to remove any excess soap particles. If you have a lint roller use that to remove any lint particles or you can even just use a piece of tape. If you hat is leather use a soft cotton cloth for cleaning. When you are cleaning your hat, be sure to rub gently in circular motions. Vigorous rubbing can permanently break down the fabric fibers of the hat. If you must machine wash your hat, be sure to do it in the dishwasher and not your typical washing machine. Air-dry your hat after washing by pulling it over a hat shape holder and setting it on a flat surface out of direct sunlight.

Here are some additional common hat care tips:

Every hat will develop its own personality and style with time. Small marks on the hat are all part of the hats life cycle and only add to its authenticity.

All hats can be treated with a waterproof spray if necessary

Some hats might shrink if they are exposed to high heat, or left out exposed to sunlight

A stiff brim allows your hat to be shape the way that you would like, but some hats feature a flexible brim that allows the hat to be crushed.

If you do not have a hat form place the hat on a bowl while it dries to keep its form.

The dishwasher is another viable option for washing a hat but can sometimes fade the colors of the hat,

Dry cleaning is also a cheap and effective way to keep your hat clean

If you are completely lost about hat care check the tag to find washing instructions

A trucker cap, at first designed for farmers, truck drivers, and other rural workers would evolve into much more. The back mesh allowed the worker’s heads to breathe in the hot weather and kept them cool. The hat, at first was called a “feed” cap. They were used for promotional giveaways. The original styles of these caps had company logos that were either printed or featured a sewn on patch. Companies such as John Deere or other local stores used these hats for promotional purposes. The trucker hat, very similar to a baseball cap really gained ground in the year 2000. The hat style struck a chord with the youth of America. The hat grew in popularity with the rise of skateboarding and the skateboarding culture. The youth of America with the help of many Hollywood celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Pharell Williams and Justin Timberlake brought trucker hats to new heights of popularity. Many other celebrities have donned the trucker hat throughout its history.

Styles:

Trucker hats today are available in so many unique colors and styles. Trucker hats may have started as an early promotional item, but now they feature every design, logo, or message that you can think of. The traditional mesh style stays the same but the styles can change. These hats were popularized early on by the youth and their popularity has continued to grow into 2013. The trucker hat is the most versatile and comfortable hat style available today.

The Future: The trucker hat is still a fairly new hat style. It would not hit its original target the way that it was initially intended but the youth and Hollywood has turned the trucker hat into one of the most popular hat types in the world. Its versatile styling and ability to be printed on has made it a popular hat choice for advertisers, businesses, and the youth of America. With so many styles, colors and designs to choose from the trucker hat will only continue to grow in popularity and be a mainstay here at e4Hats.com. Many people believe that the trucker hat is just a fad and will be gone as quickly as it came but we personally see the trucker hat sticking around for a long time to come.

Show Your Hat Some Love:

Caring for your trucker hat is very similar in the way that you would take care of any other baseball hat. Trucker hats are more fragile than other baseball hats and are best washed by hand in your sink with soap and warm water. Towel-dry your hat and stuff the interior of the hat with other towels or something that helps the hat keep its shape. Buying a plastic hat mold can allow you to wash your hat in the dishwasher and helps your hat keep its shape. Simply let your trucker hat air dry for the best results.

Here are some additional common hat care tips:
• Every hat will develop its own personality and style with time. Small marks on the hat are all part of the hats life cycle and only add to its authenticity.
• All hats can be treated with a waterproof spray if necessary
• Some hats might shrink if they are exposed to high heat, or left out exposed to sunlight
• A stiff brim allows your hat to be shape the way that you would like, but some hats feature a flexible brim that allows the hat to be crushed.
• If you do not have a hat form place the hat on a bowl while it dries to keep its form.
• The dishwasher is another viable option for washing a hat but can sometimes fade the colors of the hat,
• Dry cleaning is also a cheap and effective way to keep your hat clean
• If you are completely lost about trucker hat care check the tag to find washing instructions

The baseball cap has had a storied history. The baseball cap has become an American icon over the last century or so. The baseball cap is the only hat style that was born in America. The ball cap was brought into prominence by the famous by early baseball players. Many people quickly took to the idea of a baseball cap because they could show their love of their favorite team with the world. The early baseball cap turned out to be the perfect fit for the country at the time. The hat was simple, the hat was functional and it was a new style unique to Americans. At the time Baseball was just starting to become America’s pastime and the ball cap was a part of the team’s uniform and fans wanted to look like their favorite ball players. The baseball cap was soon adopted in other sports like basketball, football, NASCAR and many other sports. The hats enabled fans to show their fanaticism for their favorite team in a comfortable and fashionable way.

The baseball cap would quickly evolve from its early inception. It was not long until farmers, truckers, laborers and the average American adopted these hats into their everyday wardrobe. The baseball cap would reach the peak of its popularity in the 80’s and 90’s and the hat became a hot fashion item. This increased popularity was due to early hip hop artists incorporating the baseball cap into their style. Just like many other classic American items like baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and NASCAR, the baseball cap was engrained in American culture for over half a decade now. It became a symbol of America. You could walk along any street in America and see someone with a baseball cap on their head and tennis shoes on their feet.

Styles:

There are so many styles of baseball caps available today. You can find adjustable and fitted caps available in so many different colors and designs. If you like simpler designs, you can find solid color hats perfect for any occasion. You can find baseball caps with every logo and design imaginable, that can help you show support to your favorite team, support a cause that you believe strongly in, or even just to look ridiculously good. The ball cap is one of the most casual caps in existence and can be worn at almost any event. Fitted caps give your hat a glove like feeling on your head. This is the best way to get a hat that fits you exactly the way that you want. If you like adjustable hats that is another great option but lacks the visual appeal that a fitted hat offers. The hat has evolved over the last 50 years. No matter what happens in the future, the baseball cap will always be synonymous with America and our culture.

The Future...

Nowadays you will have a hard time looking in any closet in America and not finding at least one baseball cap in the closet. Embroidery has evolved so much in the last 50 years and caps are embroidered with almost any design or logo that you can imagine. Baseball caps today are used to show the world what team or brand you love and support. The hats in a way turn the wearer into a walking billboard. People could tell the world so much about them just by the hat they were wearing on their head. I don’t know if Babe Ruth knew that the baseball hat would evolve this far. The baseball cap is and will always be a simple functional part of our America’s wardrobe and American culture. A baseball cap is almost as synonymous with American culture as apple pie. The baseball cap has come a long way and it will always hold a special place in the heart of hat lover everywhere.

Show Your Hat Some Love

Baseball caps are pretty simple to care for. Taking great care of your hat can help your hat last well beyond its years. Almost any hat you might own today is most likely made of these common materials, cotton, twill, polyester, or jersey. Most of these hats have a plastic form but some might still have the cardboard brim. You can purchase wash molds designed to help your hat keep its shape during the wash, but even just throwing your hat in the washer or even the dishwasher can give you the same results. If you would like to test your individual hat put in in the wash either by itself or with like colored items just in case you get color bleed from your hat. When washing your baseball cap you should always use cold water and be sure to never use any kind of bleach or bleach based product. These products can cause discoloration. When it comes to drying, the best method is to simply air-dry your hat. The dryer might cause shrinking or material degradation. Check your hat’s tag for more information about materials and washing instructions.

Here are some common hat care tips:

Every hat will develop its own personality and style with time. Small marks on the hat are all part of the hats life cycle and only add to its authenticity.

All hats can be treated with a waterproof spray if necessary

Some hats might shrink if they are exposed to high heat, or left out exposed to sunlight

A stiff brim allows your hat to be shape the way that you would like, but some hats feature a flexible brim that allows the hat to be crushed.

If you do not have a hat form place the hat on a bowl while it dries to keep its form.

The dishwasher is another viable option for washing a hat but can sometimes fade the colors of the hat,

Dry cleaning is also a cheap and effective way to keep your ball cap clean

If you are completely lost about hat care check the tag to find washing instructions

The visor is one of the most recognizable hat types in the world. I am sure that most people have either worn or seen one of these versatile pieces of head wear. These hats have protected the heads and faces of people all over the world for decades. We have all seen these before but the question remains, what is a visor? The visor by definition is a crown less hat consisting of a visor or a brim that has a strap long the back that wraps around your head. The visor portion is sometimes curved or flat and the back is sometimes adjustable. The strap acts like a sweatband and a visor provides fantastic eye protection from the sunlight. The visor is more than just a boring, style-less piece of head wear. The visor has gone through a rise and fall in the fashion ranks throughout its history. The visor was invented by William Bower in London primarily for horseback riding and other active sports like golf. Visors have been made of a plethora of different materials like poly foam, heavy twill, brushed cotton, cotton twill, polyester, mesh, terry cloth and so many more delicate yet durable materials. The visor since its inception has been the go to piece of head wear for a variety of athletes and outdoor activities. The hat saw a rise in popularity in the 1980’s and was used as a vehicle for many advertising and promotional campaigns.

Styles:

Choosing the right visor can sometimes be a difficult task. There are several aspects to keep in mind when looking for the perfect visor. The most important of these aspects is the individual’s personal style. The color you choose or the visor’s backing strap type can be a deal maker or deal breaker for a potential visor wearer. The intended use of the visor also factors into your choice. The material and style has to be just right for the right activity. You will find a visor available in shorter and longer brim styles as well as in a variety of heights and thicknesses of the crown. A visor today is available in so many great styles like brushed sports, cotton sports, mesh, bow back, adjustable, braided straw, and clip-on and more. If you love playing tennis and can’t get enough of the sun then a tennis visor will quickly become your new best friend. Visors have been around for decades now, and while the styles and colors may have changed, what has stayed true is the fabulous sun protection that they provide.

The Future...

The visor has been and will continue to be a popular accessory. Especially if you are looking to print or embroider a sports team or any other logo onto. They are great for promotional campaigns and are simple and versatile hats that offer both impeccable style and superior sun protection, for your head and the rest of your face. Starting from the day of the visor's inception all the way to today, the benefits of a visor have not changed only the style. It is becoming common knowledge nowadays that we must keep ourselves protected from the sun’s harmful rays. The sun’s rays have been known to have a negative impact on your skin as well as your vision. The UV rays from the sun can be a damaging force and have been known to cause certain cancers. Protection from these UV rays is important for both young and old. A visor works great in protecting not only your head but your eyes, nose, cheeks and the rest of your face. Some visors today are made of special material designed to give you even more SPF coverage from the sun. You will find a visor’s protection rating by looking at the specifications information. You can find a great visor selection here at e4Hats.com. Visors have been used in outdoor sports for years and years and the style has remained true since day one and will continue to be a great stylish and functional hat option for UV protection.

Show Your Hat Some Love

A visor is worn usually during warm and strenuous activities and can quickly become soiled with sweat and dirt that accumulates on the hat. There are a variety of different methods available that can be used to clean the hat while also maintaining the visor’s shape. With so many options available just choose the right option for you. You can hand wash your visor simply with mild detergent, water, an old toothbrush, some stain removing pre-treatment and a small bowl. You can also use an optional hat rack to help the visor keeps its shape. Fill the bowl with water and some of the detergent. Use the toothbrush to gently spot treat the visor being sure not to soak the visor. Rinse with clean water and air dry using the hat form mold if you have one. Machine washing is another option and purchasing a hat form mold is a great option for machine washing. These molds help the hat keep its shape during the wash cycle. Make sure to use the gentle wash cycle and air-dry the hat when complete.

Here are some additional common hat care tips:

Every hat will develop its own personality and style with time. Small marks on the hat are all part of the hats life cycle and only add to its authenticity.

All hats can be treated with a waterproof spray if necessary

Some hats might shrink if they are exposed to high heat, or left out exposed to sunlight

A stiff brim allows your hat to be shape the way that you would like, but some hats feature a flexible brim that allows the hat to be crushed.

If you do not have a hat form place the hat on a bowl while it dries to keep its form.